Ferris music industry management senior Brian Cross is gaining “real world experience” as he helps plan for this year’s Turn Up the Good (TUG) concert in light of financial instability.
“We may have hardships along the way,” Cross said, “but as far as getting us ready for our futures in the music industry, I don’t know a better way to teach us than what we are doing right now.”
Turn Up the Good, an annual electronic spring concert hosted by the Music Industry Management Association, is scheduled for 9 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at The Gate. Located on Perry Street near campus, The Gate is an entertainment center that offers food, drinks and bowling.
This will be the fourth time TUG has been held in as many years.
“Students can expect a fun atmosphere with a dark carnival theme,” TUG book agent and Torch photographer Tori Thomas said. “There will be various carnival-themed tables and even some carnies. This year we are bringing in more live bands with the electronic feel rather than DJs. There will be a few DJs to get the crowd hyped though.”
MIMA is still finalizing who will be performing at Turn Up the Good, according to Thomas. The announcement is expected sometime next month.
“We are still in the process of getting contracts,” Thomas said. “The bands were selected based on popularity and affordability. We want to bring a big crowd to Turn Up the Good, so we based it off who will sell the most tickets to our market.”
Cross acknowledged the “road blocks” MIMA has had to overcome in order to host the event and said this year’s TUG team has had to work harder than groups in years past.
“We have had to work around a loss of budget, change of venue and date conflicts just to get this show going,” Cross said. “It hasn’t stopped us yet.”
Like Autumn aLive last semester, MIMA was forced to fundraise on its own rather than receiving money from the finance division. In September, student government rescinded the money it had allocated to MIMA after a MIMA officer missed a mandatory meeting.
The financial instability forced MIMA to change its approach to event planning.
“We’re even more budget conscious than we already were,” MIMA Treasurer and Torch Lifestyles Editor Tyler Hanan said. “We have to focus more on fundraising and earnings than in years prior.”
Although MIMA is “in the early stages,” Hanan is pleased with the fundraising the organization has done for the event so far. With over a month to go, the Indiegogo page MIMA started for TUG has raised $280 of its $2,500 goal. Local businesses like Biggby and The Dog Dish are donating a portion of their profits on certain nights to support TUG.
Hanan said, even more than fundraising, MIMA is focusing on securing sponsorships.
“We want to build relationships that will help us build up the program and fund future concerts, not just this one,” he said.
This year marks the first time TUG will be held off campus. It was previously held at Wink Arena.
Thomas said MIMA received an overwhelmingly positive response from students who attended Autumn aLive at The Gate last semester, so TUG organizers decided to also hold their event at the popular off-campus venue as well.
“In the past, TUG has always had its part to play in the heart of students,” TUG co-head of promotions Brian Cross said. “Now with the change of location and more intimate venue size, it should be a more welcoming environment for the students.”
TUG pre-sale tickets are $5 or $10 at the door. Tickets will be sold in BUS 124 and at The Gate. Individual MIMA students will also be selling tickets.
“I expect this to be the most exciting and entertaining Turn Up the Good that Ferris has seen yet,” Cross said. “I encourage anyone and everyone who feels this may be the show to go to, to give it a shot and let the music industry management program show you what we can do.”